ParentStudentHandbook2017-18 AUG.17

the incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. This information shall be provided in writing within five school days after the results of the investigation are reported to the Board of Education.

A parent or guardian may request a hearing before the Board of Education after receiving the information. When a request for a hearing is granted, the hearing shall be held within ten school days of the request. The Board of Education shall conduct the hearing in executive session, pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4–1 et seq.), to protect the confidentiality of the pupils. At the hearing, the Board may hear testimony from and consider information provided by the school Anti–Bullying Specialist and others, as appropriate, regarding the alleged incident, the findings from the investigation of the alleged incident, recommendations for consequences or services, and any programs instituted to reduce such incidents, prior to rendering a determination. At the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting following its receipt of the report or following a hearing in executive session, the Board shall issue a decision, in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify the Superintendent’s decision. The Board’s decision may be appealed to the Commissioner of Education, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:3, Controversies and Disputes, no later than ninety days after issuance of the Board of Education’s decision. A parent, pupil, legal guardian, or organization may file a complaint with the Division on Civil Rights within one hundred eighty days of the occurrence of any incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying based on membership in a protected group as enumerated in the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5–1 et seq.). The Board authorizes the Principal of each school, in conjunction with the Anti–Bullying Specialist, to define the range of ways in which school staff will respond once an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying is confirmed, and the Superintendent shall respond to confirmed harassment, intimidation, and bullying, according to the parameters described in this Policy. The range of ways in which school staff will respond shall include an appropriate combination of counseling, support services, intervention services, and other programs. The Board recognizes that some acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying may be isolated incidents requiring the school officials respond appropriately to the individual(s) committing the acts. Other acts may be so serious or parts of a larger pattern of harassment, intimidation, or bullying that they require a response either at the classroom, school building or school district level or by law enforcement officials. Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a pupil who commits an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion, as permitted under N.J.S.A. 18A:37–1, Discipline of Pupils and as set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:16–7.2, Short–term Suspensions, N.J.A.C. 6A:16–7.3, Long–term Suspensions and N.J.A.C. 6A:16–7.5, Expulsions. In considering whether a response beyond the individual level is appropriate, school officials shall consider the nature and circumstances of the act, the degree of harm, the nature and severity of the behavior, past incidences or past or continuing patterns of behavior, and the context in which the alleged incident(s) occurred. Institutional (i.e., classroom, school building, school district) responses can range from school and community surveys, to mailings, to focus groups, to adoption of research–based harassment, intimidation or bullying prevention program models, to training for certificated and non–certificated staff, to participation of parents and other community members and organizations, to small or large group presentations for fully addressing the actions and the school’s response to the actions, in the context of the acceptable pupil and staff member behavior and the consequences of such actions, and to the involvement of law enforcement officers, including safe schools resource officers. Range of Responses to an Incident of Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying

I.

For every incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, the school officials must respond appropriately to the individual who committed the act. The Board is encouraged to set the parameters for the range of

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